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Molecular taxonomy confirms morphological classification of deep-sea hydrothermal vent copepods (Dirivultidae) and suggests broad physiological tolerance of species and frequent dispersal along ridges

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Abstract

Dirivultid copepods are among the most successful organisms at deep-sea hydrothermal vents, as this family includes 50 morphologically described species. We studied COI diversity of some species in various geographical areas and vent fluid regimes, in order to gain a better understanding of true species diversity, dispersal strategies, and evolution. DNA taxonomy revealed the same entities as described with morphological characters. No cryptic species were detected. With the help of COI analyses, it was possible to identify a new species and match the dimorphic sexes of another species. The geographical distance between vents, as well as the extreme physico-chemical environment, are thought to affect the gene flow of fauna. We could not detect any sequence differences within species among different geographical scales (up to 2,000 km) or different vent fluid regimes. We suggest that Dirivultidae have relatively high gene flow between vents and are able to disperse relatively easy along ridges. Further, they have a broad physiological tolerance and thus might not have undergone speciation in response to heterogeneity caused by vent fluids.

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Acknowledgments

We warmly thank Charles Fisher (PennState University, USA), Monika Bright (University of Vienna, Austria), and Stefan Sievert (WHOI, USA) for inviting us on their cruises allowing us to collect excellent copepod material. Special thanks go to the captains, crew, pilots, and scientists (especially Ingrid Kolar, Laura Riavitz (both University of Vienna), and Dominique Cowart (PennState University, USA)) for their amazing help during the sea-going expeditions. Timothy G. Barraclough provided the GMYC code programmed in R2.9.2. This work was supported by the ChEss Mini-Grant (to SG), the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (to SG), the Austrian Science Foundation grant FWF (P20190-B17 to M. Bright), and the US National Science Foundation grant (OCE 0732333 to C. Fisher). We are indebted to the Alfred Sloan Foundation for their generous support to the Census of Marine Life, to which this manuscript contributes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deutsches Zentrum für Marine Biodiversitätsforschung (DZMB), Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 26382, Wilhelmshaven, Germany

    Sabine Gollner & Pedro Martínez Arbizu

  2. Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Frescativägen 40, 10405, Stockholm, Sweden

    Diego Fontaneto

  3. Division of Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot Berkshire, SL57PY, UK

    Diego Fontaneto

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  1. Sabine Gollner
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  2. Diego Fontaneto
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  3. Pedro Martínez Arbizu
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Correspondence to Sabine Gollner.

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Communicated by S. Uthicke.

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Gollner, S., Fontaneto, D. & Martínez Arbizu, P. Molecular taxonomy confirms morphological classification of deep-sea hydrothermal vent copepods (Dirivultidae) and suggests broad physiological tolerance of species and frequent dispersal along ridges. Mar Biol 158, 221–231 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-010-1553-y

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